DAILY NEWS Stream – December 1, 2025

US President Trump says the US will begin stopping suspected Venezuelan drug traffickers by land very soon. The US has made over 21 drug boat strikes since September (Reuters)

Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader grants the US access to restricted areas to support the US’s anti-drug operations in the Caribbean (AP)

US Angel Families— those who lost loved ones to border-related crimes— thank President Trump in a new Thanksgiving video for His border security efforts, saying, “We appreciate You” (Fox News)

US President Trump unveils a new Washington DC renovation project, vowing to remove Biden-era “filth and incompetence” and to “Make DC Beautiful Again” (New York Post)

US: Investigation finds that the 29-year-old Afghan national suspected of killing two National Guard troops near the White House had previously served in the US-backed NDS-03 Zero Units, which worked closely with the US during the war in Afghanistan (New York Post)

The US meets with Mexico to ensure Mexico delivers sufficient water to the US as per the 1944 Water Treaty. Under President Trump, Mexico delivered more water than the previous four years combined, but shortages still cost Texas [US] farmers hundreds of millions of dollars in crop losses this year (State.gov)

Doctors say seitan (wheat gluten) is a high-protein, iron-rich wheat-based food that supports muscle repair, metabolism, and satiety, making it especially helpful for active or athletic lifestyles. Its low fat and high protein help stabilize energy and support healthy body composition. Add seitan to stir-fries, grain bowls, or wraps for a hearty, nutrient-dense upgrade (EatingWell)

Experts praise purple cabbage as a vegan superfood packed with vitamin C, vitamin K, fiber, and anthocyanins, plant pigments that protect the heart and support long-term cellular health. Its phytonutrients help lower inflammation, improve digestion, and nurture a diverse gut microbiome while supporting glowing skin and steady energy. Add purple cabbage to slaws, stir-fries, wraps, or vegan soups for a colorful, nutrient-dense boost (Healthline)

Sumatra [Indonesia]: Heavy rains from a cyclone kill over 90 with dozens missing, while floods affect millions across Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka (BBC)

Southern Thailand [Hat Yai] sees once-in-300-years rainfall with 335 millimeters in one day, killing at least 33 as floods devastate the region (BBC)

The Australian government predicts the country’s greenhouse gas emissions will fall only 48% by 2035, far short of its 62–70% target despite renewable energy growth (The Guardian)

The UK sends £1 million in aid to typhoon-hit Philippines through the World Food Programme after Typhoons Tino and Uwan (Gov.uk)

Angolan villagers including former hunter Joaquim Avelino Fragoso now protect sea turtle-people instead of hunting them after community conservation and education programs (Reuters)

I saw this big, beautiful staircase going up into the sky. I said, “If I can get to that staircase, maybe somebody will find me.” American veteran and former forensic investigator Randy Schiefer shares how he died from COVID-19— and was given a tour of Heaven, glimpses of loved ones, and a supernatural mission.

Randy grew up close to his father, an auxiliary police officer, in Florida [US]. At 15, he helplessly watched his father die of a heart attack, leading to a spiritual disconnection that lasted for decades. After a long career in security, the Air Force, and as an investigator, Randy mostly put aside questions of faith and the afterlife. At 67, during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Randy fell gravely ill— ultimately hospitalized and in an induced coma for weeks, with every organ in failure. Isolated from his family and close to death, he later told his daughter, “I wasn’t here… I traveled.”

I said, “Lisa, I was in like a dark airplane fuselage.” And I remember my consciousness—no body, I was bodiless—it was just my conscious woke up, and I was in this dark tunnel. And I was moving through the tunnel very slowly, and I knew I had died. I remember telling myself, “Okay, you’re dead, you died, but where are we going?” The tunnel as I was coming through was warm and so loving, and I felt such an incredible peace and calm that I had never ever experienced before. And this tunnel was encased with a bright Light, and I traveled through, and I have no idea how long I was in the tunnel. But when I came out of it I was in a beautiful golden room.

Though he saw no physical forms at first, Randy sensed a spiritual presence by his side. It had a mezzanine, and I remember standing on that mezzanine and suddenly I felt— could not see, but I felt— the presence of someone next to me. And I was standing there just taking in the beauty of this room: very high, tall ribbed vaulted ceilings, beautiful gold inlaid in all the vaults, huge beautiful chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and the bright light radiating in through the windows, and you could feel the warmth and the love. When this spirit came up to me, and it was in human form, and he stopped a few feet away, and I said, “What a beautiful room!” He goes, “Yes, it’s one of our most popular areas. But you have to leave, you don’t belong here.”

Escorted out through beautiful oak wood doors, Randy entered a radiant Celestial city.

I was in a beautiful golden city, stunningly beautiful. Big skyrise golden buildings with opaque windows as far as you could see up in the sky. I passed parks, and the parks were absolutely stunning, such a brilliant green and beautiful flowers and trees, and there were some children playing in the parks. And I kept moving through the city, and suddenly I felt lost. I sat down and I remember commotion movement around me, but nobody was stopping to help. And I was crying out, “Help me, I’m lost, someone please help me!” And I felt cold and anxious and scared. That’s when Randy saw the stairway. I saw this big, beautiful staircase going up into the sky. I said, “If I can get to that staircase, maybe somebody will find me.” So my consciousness moved over to that staircase. But all of a sudden, I heard a voice, “There’s Randy,” and I turned around to see there was a man with long white hair with a white beard, dressed in a beautiful white robe, and he’s the one that grabbed me off the steps. And I went back into my dark, sedated world.

Randy’s consciousness shifted again, now finding himself walking a flower-lined path beside a river, accompanied by a spirited young boy. My conscious re-awoke and it was moving down a dirt pathway outlined in beautiful flowers and trees, and there was a river that ran beside the pathway. Suddenly, this little boy comes out, and he was very animated: “Follow me, follow me, follow me!” he was crying out. So I followed him, and he took me into this beautiful room, and he goes, “You wait here.” As Randy gazed out at the peaceful river, the boy returned with startling news. He said to me, “I’m sorry.” He says, “You have to leave.” And I said, “I don’t want to leave… I feel so much peace and love, and I feel home,” and he goes, “No, I’m sorry. Your room isn’t ready, you have to leave.” And with that, I was back into my dark, little sedated world. Randy was then thrust into a void full of orbs, guided by a presence, and shown visions of his deceased mother-in-law, parents, and sister— each fading away as he watched.

There were orbs of light that were passing by, and I felt the presence of my guide again, and he indicated to me that I needed to follow him, we needed to go into the void. So we started to move into this void. And off in the distance, this little light came on and it started to get brighter as we moved closer, and brighter, until I suddenly saw my mother-in-law. And she was sitting there very regally, very straight and very proper. And she was probably in her late 20s, maybe early 30s in appearance, but I knew it was her. As we started to go deeper into the void, there was another light. And I saw my dad, my mother and my sister, and they were standing there, and their light started to slowly go out. Another light then delivered a message to Randy for someone he’d never met. Off to the distance to my right hand side, this orb of light caught my attention, and it was coming up to me very, very quickly, and it stopped right in front of me. And for a brief, brief second, it materialized into a human face, and he said to me: “Tell Madison at the salon her grandfather’s okay.” And he moved over to a white porch, and he showed me the making of red, white and blue ribbons and American flags. And I knew instantly he was a veteran. I just knew it, I just felt it. And it was right after he showed me him making these red, white and blue flags that my spirit guide told me, “I have to go.” And I returned back to my little dark, sedated world.

After awakening and telling his family what he’d seen, Randy was mystified at the message for Madison. Months later, he discovered a business card at a local barbershop that matched. On the card clear as day was written “Madison Logan.” I said, “Make me an appointment with Madison.” As she cut his hair, Randy asked Madison if her grandparents were still alive. And she goes, “No, the one grandfather that I was closest with passed away less than a year ago.” I said, “Oh, was he a veteran?” and she goes, “Oh yeah, he served in the Army.” And I said, “Madison, I think your grandfather came to me, and he has a message for you.” And she’s kind of looking at me like, “You’re weird,” you know. I said, “Madison, your grandfather came, and he said, “Tell Madison at the salon that he’s okay.” And of course, she’s crying, I’m crying, my daughter’s crying. Randy also relayed the vision about the white porch and making flags and ribbons, which shocked Madison. I said, “Madison, He showed himself making red, white and blue ribbons and American flags—is that somehow important to you?” And she stepped back, and she looked at me like I was an alien with tears flowing down her cheeks, and she said, “Every Veterans Day, her whole family would go down to the American Legion to support him, and they would make red, white and blue ribbons and American flags for the veterans’ graves.” Later, Madison’s grandmother confirmed every detail—including her late husband’s name, service, and even the facial features Randy had momentarily seen. The message brought the family healing and relief, as Madison’s grandfather John had died alone of a heart attack, like Randy’s own father.

Randy’s near-death experience profoundly changed him, transforming an evidence- focused skeptic into someone who trusts, loves, and believes again. After my near-death experience, I want to get to know people, respect their differences. I trust people more. I have a much deeper relationship with my wife and my children now than I ever had. Family and God come first now. Before, you know, it was work, work, work, work, work. I am so blessed to be in their life and to experience their journey, and to experience my grandchildren’s journey. My kids and I have some very deep conversations about Heaven and the afterlife, and the meaning of, “Why are we here? What are our intentions here?” And I don’t sweat the little things anymore. Because we’re all here just to learn—learn to love, learn to get along and experience this magnificent journey that God has allowed us to experience. I really think that that’s what God wants us to do: have us live our lives in peace and harmony with one another and come together as a unity. And how powerful we are, when we all respect one another and love one another. (Coming Home)

Motivational quote of the day: “First, free yourself from wrong thoughts and habits. Second, establish good habits and perform good deeds. If you keep on trying, you will improve. A saint is a sinner who never gave up. Never give up!” — The Venerated Enlightened Master Paramahansa Yogananda (vegetarian)